This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive regulation of emotion through a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. The researchers, Kevin N. Ochsner, Silvia A. Bunge, James J. Gross, and John D. E. Gabrieli, examined how participants reinterpreted highly negative scenes to reduce their emotional response. They found that reappraisal, which involves cognitive strategies to reinterpret negative events as unemotional, reduced subjective negative affect. Neurologically, this was associated with increased activation in the lateral and medial prefrontal cortex (LPFC and MPFC) and decreased activation in the amygdala and medial orbito-frontal cortex (MOFC). These findings suggest that the LPFC and MPFC play a crucial role in constructing reappraisal strategies, which can modulate activity in multiple emotion-processing systems. The study also highlights the importance of the anterior cingulate cortex in monitoring and controlling emotional responses during reappraisal. Overall, the research provides insights into the neural bases of emotion regulation and supports the idea that cognitive processes can influence emotional responses.This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive regulation of emotion through a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. The researchers, Kevin N. Ochsner, Silvia A. Bunge, James J. Gross, and John D. E. Gabrieli, examined how participants reinterpreted highly negative scenes to reduce their emotional response. They found that reappraisal, which involves cognitive strategies to reinterpret negative events as unemotional, reduced subjective negative affect. Neurologically, this was associated with increased activation in the lateral and medial prefrontal cortex (LPFC and MPFC) and decreased activation in the amygdala and medial orbito-frontal cortex (MOFC). These findings suggest that the LPFC and MPFC play a crucial role in constructing reappraisal strategies, which can modulate activity in multiple emotion-processing systems. The study also highlights the importance of the anterior cingulate cortex in monitoring and controlling emotional responses during reappraisal. Overall, the research provides insights into the neural bases of emotion regulation and supports the idea that cognitive processes can influence emotional responses.